Recently chided by a well-meaning citizen for not arguing against SB176 (I had, in fact, declared clearly to the Senate Judiciary Committee that, as written then and now, the University of Alaska Board of Regents would not support the bill, but no matter), I asked myself: “Argue against what?”

Have you ever thought about the Board that sets the amount of money you get every year as a Dividend? Please check the website Alaska Permanent Fund Board Confirmation Committee. Why should APFB that is currently only a gubernatorial appointment be confirmed by Alaska Legislature? There are those who will tell you that confirmation will politicize the board.

In general, I do agree that UAA, as well as all colleges and universities, should become tobacco-free campus-wide. This tobacco ban should also include electronic cigarettes, as well as chewing tobacco.

Some have asked us why we’re doing this. Why are we in support of a smoke-free UAA? All of us on the UAA Smoke-Free Task Force have been affected by smoking. We’ve watched family and friends struggle to quit. Some of us have watched loved ones die. It is because of them we’re doing this.

Dear Founding Fathers,
In 1776, shockwaves were felt around the world when you declared independence for the United States. Holding steadfast in your belief that all men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights, you issued a challenge that a king would not be the supreme authority of this land.

I was in the homestretch of completing high school. I was filled with a mix of excitement for the future and stress over having to make big life decisions — decisions like what to do next.
My more grounded parents wanted me to plan for college, evaluate options and discuss choices. During those talks I never — not even once — considered the University of Alaska Anchorage as a destination. My head was telling me, “I need to get out.”

Many important issues were raised in the Women’s History Month edition of The Northern Light, nearly all of which were either only vaguely touched on yet overshadowed by inconsequential nonsense or entirely redirected in a way harmful to women everywhere. There are numerous examples of this in nearly every article, but I will confine this letter to what I think are the most important.